The Leading in a Crisis Podcast Tom

Prepare to navigate the stormy seas of crisis management as we welcome the unparalleled expertise of Dan Smiley, whose storied career has taken him from the decks of the Coast Guard to the forefront of oil spill response. Now, as a consultant and podcast voice on crisis leadership, Dan steps aboard our show to chart the integration of AI into the realm of incident command. With anecdotes from the field and an insider's perspective, he brings to life the transformative impact of AI tools like ChatGPT in sculpting dynamic response strategies and propelling software innovation in crisis scenarios.

The conversation then shifts to a more turbulent current – the murky waters of AI-generated graphics and the scourge of misinformation. Battling through the challenges of crafting our podcast logo with AI, we expose the ironic complexities of technology that's simultaneously advancing and leading astray. Witness how deceptively realistic visuals, such as those of a fabricated ship fire, can undermine trust during real-life emergencies. Dan and I explore the indispensable role of Public Information Officers in this new age, armed with the latest rhetorical armor to combat an onslaught of AI-spun fallacies that threaten the integrity of truth in our digitally dominated world.

Reach Tom Mueller at tom@leadinginacrisis.com
Reach Marc Mullen at marcmullenccc@gmail.com
Reach Dan Smiley via LinkedIn.

On this episode, Tom and Marc review the communications coming out from the various parties involved in the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore.

This is a complex response involving numerous federal, state, and local agencies, with communications coming from several different groups. Tom and Marc parse through the communications and offer insights for crisis communicators monitoring this large scale response that has more than 20 persons staffing the joint information center. We have also seen communications from the US Army Corps of Engineers, the State of Maryland, local entities, and the ship management company. How does it all blend together in this high-profile incident response? Which crisis website technology platform is being used to run the online communications? Tom and Marc offer their observations and insights.

For more information about the podcast, reach out to Tom and Marc:
tom@leadinginacrisis.com
marcmullenccc@gmail.cocm

Steer clear of the political quagmire and keep your brand afloat during election season! Join host Tom Mueller and guest Kathy Leach from Brand Insights as we traverse the complex terrain of brand risk management amidst the uproar of political campaigns. Discover essential strategies for maintaining your company's integrity without becoming collateral damage in political warfare. We're getting down to brass tacks on staying informed and strategic with your brand's messaging, the art of monitoring social chatter, and the finesse of working with legal and PR mavens to sidestep potential pitfalls. 

The conversation doesn't end there; we're tackling the tightrope walk of brand communication when the winds of controversy blow. Learn how to articulate principled stands on hot-button issues, anticipate the public reaction, and construct responses that strike a chord with your audience. Kathy and I lay out the blueprint for an effective crisis team and the creation of a 'war room' to manage crises with precision and speed. 

You can reach Kathy Leech via email at: Kathy@brand-insights.net

Reach Tom Mueller at: tom@leadingingacrisis.com

Join us for an engaging conversation around risk communication - not the same as crisis communication - with Ann Hayward Walker, a seasoned scientific advisor who has worked major incidents including Deepwater Horizon and Exxon Valdez. Ann has spent many years exploring how people process perceived risk and how an incident management team can effectively communicate around risk issues.  How does she recommend managing the difficult issue of risk communication? Hint: It isn't through the PIO or Liaison teams. Emotion plays a part in connecting with a community that has suffered a major incident, yet it can get in the way of information flow. Ann also tells us why she prefers information to facts in an emergency response context. There's a lot to unpack here. Please join us!

Unlock the secrets to building unshakeable trust between companies and communities with our expert guest, Mary Sue Knowles. With over two decades of expertise, Mary Sue unravels the significance of community advisory panels (CAPs) for effective crisis management and the cultivation of long-term relationships. This episode is a goldmine for anyone looking to understand the sheer power of open dialogue and genuine engagement in forging community partnerships that withstand the test of time and turbulence.

Join us as we navigate the intricate process of forming CAPs, selecting the right members, and establishing a dialogue that outlasts the immediacy of regulatory approvals. Mary Sue walks us through the stark differences between a community with a CAP in place and one caught unprepared in the face of crises, with vivid examples drawn from recent headlines. By the end of our conversation, you'll grasp why CAPs aren't just good practice—they're the proactive bridge that connects industry to community, ensuring that even in the midst of storms, communication remains clear and conflicts are skillfully mitigated.

For more information about CAPs, contact Marysue Knowles at: mknowles@knowlescommstrategies.com

To share feedback or submit a guest recommendation, contact Tom Mueller via email at tom@leadinginacrisis.com.

To reach Marc Mullen for help with your crisis communications plan development or review, email him at mmullenccc@gmail.com.

On this episode, we discuss the value of using live, interactive social media simulation for a realistic experience during crisis training exercises.  We're joined by Geoff Paddock, a journalist-turned-communications expert based in the UK, who brings a wealth of experience in the nuclear and chemical sectors. With Geoff we dissect how digital crisis simulations provide an unparalleled level of realism and urgency that paper-based methods can't match. Our discussion takes you behind the scenes of tailoring high-stakes simulations to an organization's specific nightmare scenarios, helping teams plan their communication strategies in a safe training environment.

We discuss the STORM simulation platform, which Geoff pioneered and operates for crisis training exercises with clients around the world.

For more information on the STORM platform and crisis simulations, you can reach Geoff Paddock via email at: geoff@gpmedia.co.uk.

Other contacts for podcast information:
Tom Mueller - tom@leadinginacrisis.com
Marc Mullen - marcmullenccc@gmail.com